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Date for release: Monday 2nd February 2009

Find ARKive's threatened marine species using Google Earth

Contact: Amy Nicholas, Marketing & Communications Manager, Wildscreen 0117 3285952 | 07938 005766

Find ARKive's threatened marine species using Google Earth

Wildscreen is delighted to be contributing content to the newest version of Google Earth, which enables users to dive beneath the surface of the sea and explore the world's oceans.

Wildscreen is a charity working to promote conservation and an appreciation of biodiversity through wildlife imagery. The organisation's ARKive initiative, which is audio visually profiling the world's most threatened species, has made a layer which includes film and photographs, to add unique content to Google Earth.

Wildscreen Patron, Sir David Attenborough said "We have already seen tremendous opportunities to learn about the world and the environment through Google Earth, and now for the first time ever, we are going to be able to see what lives in the oceans of the world. It is surely an extraordinary privilege not only to be able to see the great jungles and deserts of the world, but also now, thanks to Google Earth, to be able to explore the bottom of the sea. ARKive's new marine layer illustrates life in the ocean, using the world's best wildlife films and photographs, and includes some of the rarest and most amazing creatures you will ever see."

Harriet Nimmo, Wildscreen's Chief Executive said "By adding material to Google Earth we hope to direct thousands more people across the world to the ARKive website, where they can learn so much more about the beauty and fragility of the natural world, and the urgent need to conserve it."

To view the ARKive marine species on Google Earth visit http://earth.google.com to download the latest version of the software.

Notes to Editor

  • ARKive is a global initiative of UK-based organisation Wildscreen. Wildscreen is a charity, whose mission is to promote the public understanding and appreciation of the world's biodiversity, and the need for its conservation, through the power of wildlife imagery.
  • The world's oceans cover more than 70% of the planet's surface and contain 80% of all life on Earth, yet only 5% of that space has ever been explored by humans. Ocean in Google Earth combines underwater terrain and expert content to enable users to explore some of the most difficult-to-reach parts of the world. Virtual travellers can swim around underwater volcanoes, watch videos about exotic marine life, read about nearby shipwrecks and contribute photos and videos of favourite surf and dive spots.
  • The Ocean feature is included in the newest version of Google Earth. As users zoom in on the ocean they will see a dynamic water surface. By diving beneath they can navigate 3D sea floor terrain including the Mid-Ocean Ridge, the world's longest underwater mountain range which stretches 50,000 km around the globe. The feature also includes 20 content layers, containing information contributed by the world's leading scientists, researchers, and ocean explorers.


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